Written by: Vickie Sullivan | November 19, 2024
Why the Generalist Leader Is the Future of Leadership
There’s a lot of talk about how AI will impact every aspect of work. Already, many employees want to use AI to do their job more effectively. Further, future AI will do more than provide insights and recommendations. AI agents will be able to take action. And this is giving rise to a new type of leader: the generalist leader.
“Ultra-generalists will need to manage teams composed of both AI agents and human workers. The ‘jack of all trades’ ultra-generalists will be uniquely capable of running these hybrid teams and will thus become increasingly valuable to organizations,” authors of a recent SmartBrief article write.
The new most valuable employee will not be the expert, someone with specific, hard-to-find skills. It will be a generalist leader who can bridge AI and human team members. And that shift will revamp what leadership training and education look like.
What the Rise of the Generalist Leader Means for Leadership Development
The rise of the generalist leader signifies a seismic shift in leadership development. Organizations will need to rethink how they identify and prepare future leaders, focusing less on niche expertise and more on the ability to navigate the intersection of AI and human collaboration. This shift doesn’t just reshape leadership roles—it redefines the core skills leaders will need to thrive in hybrid environments where adaptability, technological fluency, and team cohesion are paramount.
So, what does this mean for leadership development programs? Here are two things you can expect:
• People will be promoted based on their comfort with AI. The new high-potential employees will be those who already use AI and are comfortable with it. That means leadership training must focus on preparing people to build those bridges.
• Talent retention will become even more important. The generalist leader needs more than killer communication and coordination skills. These leaders will be expected to retain talent on small teams where everyone plays a significant role. This requires a different skill set.
If you are in leadership development, start asking about AI now. What is the leader’s role? What new skills do they need to be an effective generalist leader? And be prepared to pivot. I see big changes ahead.
Listen: How to Position a New Need
Now Read This:
- The Rise of Soft Skills: What Leadership Experts Need to Know
- Strategic Sounding Boards Give Real-World Advice for When the Rubber Meets the Road
Author : Bob Moore, C
Published: 2024-11-19 08:22:31
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